Service-box section.



P. MUELLER.

SERVICE BOX SECTION.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.24,1908.

1,000, 1 08. Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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SERVICE BOX SECTION.

APPLICATION FILED APR.24,1908.

Patented Aug. 8, 1911.

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P. MUELLER.

SERVICE BOX SECTION.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 24, 1908 1,000,108. Patented Au .8,-191-1.

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PHILIP MUELLER, 0F DECATUR, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO THE B. MUELLER MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, OF DECATUR, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

SERVICE-BOX SECTION.

1,ooo,1os.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A11 8, 1911.

To (LZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP MUELLER, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Decatur, Macon county, State of Illinois, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Service-Box Sections; and mypreferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in thefollowing full, clear, and exact description, terminating with claimsparticularly specifying the novelty.

This invention relates to water distribution and more especially to thatclass of devices thereunder known as mains and pipes; and the object ofthe same is to produce an improved service box, or more especially aservice box section adapted to connect the lower end of the standardservice box to curb cocks of a variety of sizes.

To this end the invention consists in a short tubular section of theservice box screwed to the lower end of the upper box body or sectionand screwed at its other end onto threads on the body of the cook, thelower section being shaped between its extremities as the respectivesizes of the parts thus connected may demand.

The following specification sets forth an embodiment of this inventionas illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof,wherein;

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the lower box section alone. Fig. 2 is acentral vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticalsectional view showing the invent-ion applied. Fig. 4L is a similar viewto Fig. 3 but with a longer lower box section than shown in Fig. 3, thestem of the cock being squared or otherwise made for the receipt of akey; this lower section serves to extend the length of the service boxwhen the pipe is a considerable distance below the surface of theground. Fig. 5 is a vertical section showing a long lower extension ofthe box wherein the threaded collar of the cock is the same size as thethreaded bell end of the upper service box body; the threads in thisinstance may be right and left. Fig. 6 is an elevation partly in sectionshowing the several parts separated.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter S designates broadly theservice box now in common use, which preferably has a bell mouth B atits lower end interiorly threaded as shown, and the letter C designatesthe curb cock having a handle or squared shank H, and also having anexteriorly threaded collar T around its body, which collar in theordinary use of devices of this character fits into the threads at thelower end of the bell mouth B.

Coming now more particularly to the present invention, the box sectionforming the subject matter of this invention and best illustrated inFigs. 1 and 2 comprises a body 1 preferably flared a little at its lowerend as at 2, and interiorly threaded at said end for a short distance asat 3 to fit upon the threads T of the cock C; and when said threads Tare made in a variety of sizes according to the sizes of the cooks, thelower end of this section will be correspondingly shaped. By preferenceI provide a shoulder at on the interior of the lower section, whichshoulder may be made in a continuous ring around the interior or may beformed in a number of lugs, and it is located sufficiently above thethreads 3 to permit the latter to be screwed onto the threads T and yetno further than said shoulder as shown in Fig. 3. The upper end 6 of thelower service box section will, as shown in the several figures, bereduced in diameter to a greater or lesser extent as indicated at 6 andexteriorly threaded as at 7 to fit the interior threads within thebell-mouth B of the upper section. The shoulder thus formed by reducingthe end 6 serves as a stop for preventing the lower section of body 1from en- Y tering too far into the service box A. In Fig. 3 thisimproved lower section is shown as enlarging the size of the bore of thelower end of the service box so that a larger cock can be used withinthe lower sect-ion than would be possible within the service box itself.

In Fig. 4 a somewhat longer lower section screwed to the cock is shownas used with the upper box section; the opening for the reception of thecock C may be reduced or increased, as the size of the cock or the useof the upper box section demands, and yet obviously the key can bepassed down through the service box body as in any other case, and thecock turned on or off if desired. Fig. 5 shows this longitudinal lowerextension in use where the threaded collar of the cock is exactly thesame size as the threaded bell-mouth B of the service body. It follows,therefore, that in the use of this improved lower section, where one issupplied with and fits the threads on the threaded collar of each cockand its upper extremity bears a standard exterior threaded end adaptedto fit the bell-mouth at the lower end of the upper service box section,cocks of a variety of sizes and patterns can be connected with thestandard service box. IV hen it is desired to extend the length of theservice box, as when the water pipe is considerably below the surface ofthe earth, it is obvious that a somewhat longer lower section 1 could beused as shown in Fig. 4; or that a lowermost section 1 of usual lengthcould. be screwed upon the cock, one or more similar sections havingstandard threads at both ends fitted upon the top of said lowermostsection 1, and finally the upper service box section 5 screwed to theuppermost section 1 without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In Fig. 5, is shown an amplification of which this invention issusceptible, which I will describe as follows: In this connection thethreads T are made left hand as well as those numbered 3 which engagethem, and all other threads are right hand. In the assembling of parts,the lower section 1 is screwed onto the collar of the cock either beforethe latter is connected to the service, or while the trench is open andthe cock unconnected and the service box S is screwed onto the threads7, while there is an opportunity to hold the lower section againstrotation. After the trench has been filled up, if it is desired todisconnect the service box S from the lower section 1, it can be done bya turn to the left applied to the service box. The flange a by abuttingagainst the top of the threaded collar T prevents the section fromrotating in that direction and hence resulting in unscrewing the partsat top of the lowermost section. By this arrangement it will be possibleto remove the service box S from position without digging it up entirelyand if it is carefully done, a broken box could be replaced more easilythan by the constructions now in use. It is also shown here that thethreaded collar T can fit into the service box proper as at B, theopening in the section 1 to receive the cock being the same as at B,provided the thread corresponds.

In Fig; 6 is shown a like connection as shown in Fig. 5 with a variationin sizes of parts; threads at B and 7 to be right hand and threads at Tand 3 to be left hand.

hat I claim is,

1. In combination with a cock having a peripherally threaded collar, anda service box having an internally threaded lower end, of a connectingsection between said parts shouldered at its upper end and terminatingin a short neck of less diameter than said section, exteriorly threadedto connect with said service box, and interiorly threaded at its lowerend to engage the threaded collar of the cock, said shoulder serving asa stop to limit the distance which said connection may enter the servicebox, and a projection within said connecting section near its lower endto limit the entrance thereinto of said threaded cock collar.

2. In combination with a cock having a peripherally threaded collar, anda service box having a bell mouth threaded in opposite direction to thecock collar, of a connect ing section between the two provided with anexterior thread on its upper end to engage the thread of the service boxand an interior thread of opposite direction in the lower end of saidconnecting section to screw onto said cock collar, and abutting meanswithin said section to prevent the rotation of the connecting sectionwhen the service box is turned to unscrew it from said connectingsection.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my signature, this 21stday of March A. D. 1908.

' PHILIP MUELLER.

Vitnesses VIRGINIA HAMILTON, JOHN L. l/VADDELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

